In June 2015 Advance Family Planning (AFP) partner Yayasan Cipta Cara Padu (YCCP) expanded their program area to two more districts: Bengkayang (West Kalimantan province) and Kuningan (West Java province). YCCP conducted district assessments and coordinated advocacy meetings between the District Heads and the District Head of the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) to introduce the AFP initiative.
The expansion effort is led by Provincial BKKBN West Kalimantan in Bengkayang and Provincial BKKBN West Java in Kuningan.
YCCP facilitated meetings for District Working Groups Bengkayang (8-10 June) and Kuningan (30 June-2 July) and provided technical assistance to strengthen their capabilities as advocacy teams. The meetings resulted in district advocacy strategies and workplans for 2015-2016. Both work plans outline three advocacy objectives for 2015-2016:
1) Increase the district family planning budget in 2016
2) Advocate for a village budget allocation for the family planning program.
3) Revitalize the family planning village team, funded by the village budget.
“Bengkayang does not have family planning field workers. We need to optimize the existing officers in the field, family planning managers at sub-districts, and village midwives. Collaborative work is needed,” said Aleksius, M.Si, District Secretary Assistant of Economy and Public Welfare of Bengkayang.
The head of BKKBN West Kalimantan Mustar, MM appreciated that the District Working Groups involve many sectors. At the meeting he stated that he plans to establish District Working Groups in 14 other districts/cities in West Kalimantan. Since his declaration on June 8, three District Working Groups have been established in the province: Kapuas Hulu, Singkawang, and Kubu Raya districts.
On June 22, the District Head of Bengkayang delivered an endorsement for village heads to allocate for family planning in their budgets.
YCCP is working to provide follow-up implementation support to the District Working Groups on their priorities.